Immune responses to primary COVID-19 vaccination were investigated in 58 patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) as part of the PETReA trial of frontline therapy (EudraCT 2016-004010-10). COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1) were administered before, during or after cytoreductive treatment comprising rituximab (depletes B cells) and either bendamustine (depletes CD4+ T cells) or cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy. Blood samples obtained after vaccine doses 1 and 2 (V1, V2) were analysed for antibodies and T cells reactive to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using the Abbott Architect and interferon-gamma ELISpot assays respectively. Compared to 149 healthy controls, patients with FL exhibited lower antibody but preserved T-cell responses. Within the FL cohort, multivariable analysis identified low pre-treatment serum IgA levels and V2 administration during induction or maintenance treatment as independent determinants of lower antibody and higher T-cell responses, and bendamustine and high/intermediate FLIPI-2 score as additional determinants of a lower antibody response. Several clinical scenarios were identified where dichotomous immune responses were estimated with >95% confidence based on combinations of predictive variables. In conclusion, the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in FL patients is influenced by multiple disease- and treatment-related factors, among which B-cell depletion showed differential effects on antibody and T-cell responses.
Journal article
Br J Haematol
08/2024
205
440 - 451
COVID19, follicular lymphoma, lymphoid malignancies, therapy, vaccination, Humans, Lymphoma, Follicular, Female, Male, Middle Aged, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Aged, Bendamustine Hydrochloride, Adult, COVID-19 Vaccines, Antibodies, Viral, Rituximab, BNT162 Vaccine, Immunogenicity, Vaccine, Cyclophosphamide, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Immunotherapy, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus